Bookbinding



Jan. 12 1926. 1,569,382

Ln R.I EVV|S BOOKBINDING Filed Jan. 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Maeaiorl.. R. LEWIS BooK-BINDING Jan, 12 1926.

2 sh'ets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1924 Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

LEO 12.. LEWIS,- OF soMERvILLn, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOKBINDING.

Application led January 29, 1924. Serial No. 689,253.

To all 2U/tom t may concern."

Be it known that I, LEO R, LEWIS, a citi- :vzen of the- United States ofAmerica, and resident of Somerville, in the county of Mddlesex and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inlilookbindmg, of which thefollowmg kis a specification.

This invention relates to bindingsl forv booksand more particularly toreinforcing or strengthening means therefor.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate anV embodiment of theinvention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a book of usual type openedto show the application of reinforcing means thereto according tothe'present invention;

Fig. l is a side elevation of the same book closed;

Fig. is a side view in perspective of an f anchor strip forming aprincipal feature of the invention;

Fig. #l isa side elevation partly broken away illustrating theapplication of the in- 25 vention tothe permanent 'binding of books; F 5is a fragmentary rear elevation of trie binding shown in Fig. 4,*certainparts being broken away to show the interior construction Fig. 6 isacross section on the line 6 6 Yof Fig. l to larger scale and with thethickness of certain of the elements greatly exaggerated for clearnessof illustration;

Fig. 7 is a perspective viewl of the anchor strip as constructed for usein'bindings such as shown in Fig. t;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the anchor strip showing it in one ofthe positions which it assumes when in use;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a book arrange in a temporary binder andprovided with the tinding reinforcing means of the present inrention; j

Fig. 1() is a fragmentary section through a book illustrating the firststeps of the production of Aa binding such as shown in Fig. 9; r

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a further step in thepreparation of the binding;

F 12 is a similar view illustrating a later step; f

Fig. 13 is a similar section showing the binder and book completelyassembled.

.F ig. 14 is afragmentary perspective view to larger scale showing anexpansible filler hereinafter' described; and

15 villustrates a modified form of binding.

The book illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises covers 1 and 2, a flexible back3, and leaves 4i,r the latter being bound within the covers in any usualor desirable manner. In practising the present invention, vI open thebook at a convenient point, as for example between signatures Or toexpose the middle leaves of a signature, and with a suitablef/ sharpimplement pierce through the back from the inside of the book. I nextprovide an anchor strip 5k Fig. 3) preferably a ribbon-like strip ofstrong flexible material, for example, textile fabric, double such'strip substantially at its center to form the fold or bight 6 and withthe assistance ofa blunt implement pushV the folded portion of the stripfrom the inside of the book outA through the perforation in the back,permitting the folded portion to project to a predetermined extent fromthe back. I then secure the free ends 7 and 8 ofthe anchor strip to theopposite surfaces of the adjacent leaves ofthe book, adhesiveconstituting effective means for securing'the .parts to` gether.

The projecting folded end of the anchor strip is of broad utility instrengthening the binding and securing its several elements together. Aplurality of such anchor strips may be employed if desired, one having afunction specifically different from that of another, or all having thesame specific function, in accordance with the particular embodiment ofthe invention. For example, certain of theanchor strips may, as

shown in Fig. 2, constitute means for tylng the inner leaves of the booksecurely to its permanent covers, while Others may tie such leaves to anattaching flap employed in securing the book within a temporary binder.

The first arrangement is illustrated in Figs. t to 8. In application ofthe invention to. a permanent binding illustrated in Vthe latter figuresthe book is shown as comprising the covers 9 and 10 and leaves 11. Iprefer to provide a reinforcing or mooring strip 12 of strong tough andflexible material, as for example textile fabric, which is interposedbetween the Opposed faces of ad jacent leaves 11"L and lll. This mooringstrip is doubled lengthwise and extends across the fold at the back ofthe book being attached to the leaves of the book in any desired manner,as Ytor example by the employeinent ot adhesive.

In practicing this torm of the invention an anchor strip similar ingeneral to the anchor strip above described is provided, such stripbeing tolded at l2 (Fig. 7), and comprising the free end portions 13 and14. The book is opened out substantially flat, slits are made throughits back and also through the n'iooring strip l2 at the told in thelatter, and the folded ends et theanchor strips are pushed through theopenings until such itolded ends project beyond the back ot the book.The tree ends l) and 14 of the anchor strips are then secured by meansot adhesive or in other suitable ,inanner to the opposed surfaces ol themooring strip 12, or it' such strip is not used they are then secureddirectly to the opposed surfaces of adjacent leaves ot' the book, aspreviously described.

rllhe rearwardly projecting folded portions ot the anchor strips aredivided longitudinally as indicated at l5 to form attaching tabs 1G and17 respectively. These tabs 1G and 17 are bent in opposite directionsand turned over against the outer surfaces of j the respective covers 9and l0, to which they are secured by means ot adhesive or otherattaching means. Vilhile the parts designated 9 and 10 have beendescribed as the original covers ot' the book, they are to be taken asbroadly illustrative or" covers in general., as for example coverssubstituted for the original ones or outer protective covers additionalto the covers proper. ln the drawings two of the anchor strips are shownbut it is to be understood that a greater or less number may be employedit desired. It is also contemplated that the anchor strips may bedivided to provide a greater number ot' attaching tabs than herein shownit it should be 'found desirable so to do.

After the anchor strips have been secured in position, an outer binderstrip ttl is preterably apglied to the back such strip extendinglongitudinally ot the back and being of sufficient width to cover andconceal the attaching tabs ot the anchor strips.

lWhile the binding ust described is particularly adapted ernianently tosecure the covers to a book w iich is not to be arranged within atemporary binder, it is evident that if desired, additional anchorstrips may be applied for securing the book to a temporary binder, suchstrips projecting outwardly beyond the back of the book as shown in Fig.2. It is further contemplated that under some circumstances the anchorstrips attaching the permanent covers to the book will be omitted andonly those useful tor securing the book in a temporary binder will beretained. This latter arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 9 to l5.

In Fig. 9 a temporary binder is shown ot the type disclosed in my U. S.Patent No. 1,347,342, dated July 20, 1920 comprising the covers 19 and20 and the iexible back 2l. The covers and back are integral, beine`made from suitable sheet material, such ror example, as heavy paper, theback being preterably scored so as to 'told or bend on predeterminedlines. The binder shown is provided with a pair of flexible attachingstraps 22 whose ends pass inwardly through openings in the back 2l ofthe cover to hold Athe book in the binder. A. fastener 23, preterably inthe torni ol a sott strip of metal disposed within the cover ot thebinder, extends longitudinally troni the one strap 22 to the other, itsends being bent to pass through openings 24 in the straps and throughthe binding ot the book, and being then turned inwardly at 25 on theouter sides ot the opposite strap ends.

In preparing a book or pamphlet for mounting in a temporary binder,whether or not of the specific type above described, it is desirable rstto reinforce the back of the book and the covers where they join theback as at these points the covers are subjected to the greatest strain.For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 10, a reinforcing strip 26 is securedalong the back of the book, the strip being or suthcient width so thatits edges 27 and 28 may overlap the covers ot the book, to which theyare secured by suitable adhesive. As shown in this figure the bookcomprises a plurality of signatures 29, each signature consisting of agroup of leaves secured together by sewing or stapling in the usualn'ianner. The book may also be furnished with covers 8O ot some flexiblematerial such as paper which in the usual manner extends around thebackof the book in one continuous piece.

After the application of the reinforcing strip 26 the book is opened andthe leaves separated, here shown as between the tivo middle signaturesand with a suitable implement spaced slot-like openings, preferably twoin number, are pierced through the back of the book and also through thereinforce strip 26. The looped end or bight ot an anchor strip such asabove described is pushed through each ot the slots 'from the inside ofthe book so that the doubled end 3 of the strip projects outwardly andrearwardly from the back of the book. The inner Jfree ends 32a and 33aof this strip are then secured by adhesive or otherwise to the oppositepages of the adjacent inner signatures 29. i

After the insertion of these strips a pair of hinge strips 32 and 33 aresecured to the rear portions of the book cover. It, as above lll'ydirectly to the covers.

lanchor strips.

described, the reinforcing strip 27 is employed, these hinge strips aresecured to the coverthrough the intermediary of the reinforcing strip,but in case the reinforcing strip is omitted the hinge strips aresecured These hinge strips may be made of any suitable tough andilexible material such for example as manila paper, clothv or the like,and are substantially coextensive in length With the back of the book.They are also of suiiicientvvidth vso that they project beyond the backof the interposed `between the projecting parts ofv the hinge stripsaresecurely united to the latter. .Instead of making the hinge strips 32and 33 of two separate pieces, they could beformed as two leaves'of anintegral piece of material folded around the ends of the A binder strip3T, consisting' preferably of an elongate strip of relativelystiffmaterial ydoubled,longitudinally touprovide the op- -posed leaves35 and 36, is now secured to the --outer surface of the projecting partsof the vhinge strips 82 and 83.

This binder strip embraces the projecting parts of the hinge stripsandanchorstrips and with said projecting portions constiututes an attachingflaplying substantially in the mid-plane of the thickness ofthe book. Asthis flap is relatively thicker and stiffer than the com--binedthickness of the hinge strips and the yanchor strips at'the line`34, it readily turns about such line as a hinge. The .attaching flap isfurnished With openings at suitable points to receive the ends of thefastener 23 by which the bookis fastened-to the binder.

The attaching-flap is, or may be, relatively 'thin as compared with thethickness of the book and when the book is mounted in a temporarybinderJ of the type above referred to the' flap is of insufficientthickness to fill out-the'flexible rear portion of the binder. Thismight under some circumstances per- Ymit the liexible rear portion ofthe binder to flatten or collapse to such an extent that not onlywould-the binder'be ldisfigured butan excessive Vstrain rwould be placedupon it Where the attaching straps 22 pass throughr it, resulting intearing out those portions of the back of the binder embraced by thestraps, whereas if the back of the binder AWere properly plumped outsuch tendency tok collapsewould be obviated and such undesir- `ablestrains would bev-avoided.

.To permit the back of the binder to be filled out so as to conformapproximatelyto nished. Thisfiller consists of a strip of flexibleresilient materialfsuch `for example as bristol board, heavy paper, orthe like, which is folded upon itself to form a series of accordionplaits 37, 37 etc. This filler is providedywith openings 38 extendingthrough the. several folds to receive the ends of the fastener 23. Inusing ytheiiller the attaching flap of the book is preferably insertedbetiveenthe middle Vfolds of the filler andthe latter isthen placedWithin-,the ytemporary binder and the ends of the fastener' 23 are jpassed through t-he straps 22, through the upper yfolds of thefiller,.through the openings'in the flap, through the lower folds of thefiller, through the lower parts of the straps .22, and is .then bentover upon the under side ofthe straps 22, thus fastening the partssecurely together. If in any case ythe filler is foundyto be too large,one or more of the folds may readily be removed by tearing Vor cuttingsoy as to fit the space available. The filler automatically vtends toexpand and thus substantially Atodill the space-Within the iiexible rearpart of the temporary binder at the back of the book, thereby holdingthe flexible back'of thebinder `fully expanded. If a single filler befound too small, other similar' fillers may be introduced. If de.

sired, fillers may be attached yto the straps of theenclosing binder,thus furnishingY a filler independent of the bound book.

vIn Fig. l5 a slight modification' of the invention is ,illustrated`wherein the book consists of a single signature 39 of leaves stapledvtogetherat their central 'fold'and having the cover 40 extendingcontinuously about the back ofthe book. Inlthis case before or after theapplication of the outer reinforce strip-27 an inner reinforce ormooring strip 41 such 'as above described' is applied. In applying thislatter strip the book is opened `outfflat and the mooring strip issecured across the fold and to the opposite faces of the inner pagesofthe book. This strip*l maybe secured by stitches,fadhesive, or othersuitable means. After the application of the mooring strip the slots oropenings are cut through 'the back of the book in the same manner asheretofore described and the anchoring strips are inserted, the innerends of the anchoring strips being secured to the mooring strip and alsoif long enough directly tothe opposite faces of the inner pages of thehook. The binding is then completed in the same manner as described Withrespect to Figs.v 10 to 13 inclusive and the lbook-is mounted Vin atemporary binder in the same manner.

The specific arrangement shown in Fig. l5 is intended merely-toillustrate the mode of using the mooring strips as it is to beunderstood that such strips may be used in books having more than onesignature and Whether sewed orlstapled, the-mooring Milt strip acting inany case to strengthen the leaves to which the anchor strips areapplied.

l/Vhile Figs. l to 8 inclusive do not illustrate the employment of areinforced strip corresponding to the strip 27 of Figs. 9 to 13, it iscontemplated that such a strip may be provided if desired. It is alsocontemplated that cover strips may if desired be applied after thecompletion of the binding to conceal the joints between the innersurfaces of the covers and the front and rear leaves of the book.

lllhen an anchor strip such as shown in Figs. l to 8 inclusive is used,the parts of the book are very securely bound together as the frontcover is directly connected to that half of the book adjacent to therear cover and the rear cover is directly united to the front half ofthe book, while the front and rear covers and the front and rear halvesof the book are also united by the same anchor strip.

While certain specilic materials have been referred to as desirable forforming various elements of the binding, it is clear that other andequivalent materials having similar physical characteristics may besubstituted therefor, and it is also evident that the exact order ofapplication of the various element-s making up the binding is immaterialto the practice of the invention. Furthermore, while reference has beenmade to a specific type of temporary binder the present invention is notrestricted to use with such a binder or in fact any binder, as thebinding herein described is intrinsically useful for strengthening` aback whether or not it is placed in a binder or otherwise employed.

I claim:

1. A binding for a book comprising a. exible anch-or strip secured to aninside part of the book and having a portion projecting outwardlythrough the back of the book, said projecting portion comprising aplurality of parts, and covers for the book, the covers being securedrespectively to different ones of said parts of the anchor strip.

2. A binding for a book comprising a flexible anchor strip consisting ofa piece of sheet material. double on itself and having its freeextremities secured to an inside part of the book and its folded endprojecting outwardly through the back of the book, said folded portionbeing divided longitudinally to form cover attaching` tabs.

3. A binding for a book comprising a flexible anchor strip secured to aninside part of the book and having a portion projecting outwardlythrough the back of the book, said projecting portion being dividedlongitudinally to form a pair of cover attaching tabs, and covers forthe book, the tabs being folded over onto the outer faces of therespective covers and secured thereto.

il. A binding for a book comprising a flexible anchor strip secured toan inside part of the book and having a folded portion projectingoutwardly through the back of the book to form a cover attaching tab, acover for the book, the outwardly projecting part of said tab beingfolded over onto the outer face of the cover and secured thereto, and areinforcing strip covering the back of the book and overlapping thecover to conceal the attaching tab.

5. A binding for a book having a plurality of leaves, comprising aflexible mooring strip extending across the fold at the back of ihe bookand having its folds attached respectively to opposite pages, a foldedflexible double anchor strip extending through the back of the book andhaving its free ends secured to the opposed folds of the mooring strip,the outer end of the anchor strip projecting from the back of the book,and a cover for the book, the projecting part of the anchor stripoverlapping the cover and being secured thereto.

6. A binding for a book having a plural- 3 ity of leaves, comprising aflexible mooring strip secured to opposed faces of inner leaves of thebook, an anchor strip 'consisting of a doubled piece of liexible sheetmaterial having its free ends secured to the opposed faces of themooring strip and having its doubled end projecting outwardly throughthe back of the book, said doubled end being divided longitudinally toform two attaching tabs, covers for the book, the tabs being folded inopposite directions and secured to the respective covers, and areinforcing strip covering the'back of the book and overlapping bothcovers to conceal the anchor strips.

7. A binding for a book comprising a binding strip secured to the backof the book, a flexible anchor strip secured to an inside part of thebook and projecting outwardly through an opening in the binding strip atthe back of the book, and hinge strips secured to the sides of the bookand projecting from the back thereof, said projecting strips beingsecured together to form a flap.

8. A binding for a book comprising a flexible anchor strip secured to aninside part of the book, and projecting from the back thereof, andhingestrips secured to the sides of the book and projecting from the backthereof, said projecting strips being secured together to form a flap.

9. A binding for a book having a signature of leaf sheets comprising aflexible mooring strip secured to the opposed pages of the inner sheetof said signature and extemling across the fold of the latter, and aflexible anchor strip extending through the back of the book and securedat its inner end to the mooring strip.

10. .A binding fora book having a signature of leaf sheets folded at themiddle, a mooring strip secured to `opposed surfaces of the inner leafsheet of the signature,and an anchor. strip having its endssecured tothe mooring strip and its central portion doubledv and extendingoutwardly through the back of the book.

11. A binding for a book having flexible covers and a plural-ity ofleaves, comprising strips of flexible material secured respectively tothe outer sides of the covers Vand projecting beyond the back of thebook, a flexible folded anchor member secured to an inside part of thebook and having its fold projecting through the back thereof, and meansfor securing said projecting port-ions of said strips to each other andenclosing the fold of the anchor member between them.

12. A binding for a book having flexible covers and a plurality ofleaves, comprising a reinforcing element embracing the back of the bookand overlapping tne outer faces of the covers, hinge strips securedrespectively to the overlapping portions of the reinforcing element andprojecting beyond the back of the book,fa folded anchor strip secured tothe face of an inner leaf of the bock, and projecting out through thereinforcing element of the back of the book, and means securing theprojecting portions of the hinge strips and the anchor strips together.

1S. A binding for a book comprising a strip of flexible material securedto and extending longitudinally of each side of the book adjacent to theback thereof, Said strips projecting beyond the back, an elongatedbinder strip doubled longitudinally and embracing the projectingportions of the first named strips, and means securing the severalstrips together forming a projecting hinge member.

14;. A binding for a book comprising a reinfcrcing strip embracing theback of the book and overlapping the sides thereof, a flexible hingestrip secured to each of said sides over the reinforcing strip, saidhinge strips projecting beyond the back of the book, a folded anchorstrip secured to an inside part of the book and projecting outivardlythrough the back thereof between the projecting hinge strips, a binderlstrip einbracing the projecting portions of the hinge strips and anchorstrips, and means uniting the binder and said projecting portions toform ansa-ttaching flap extending longitudinally at the back of thebook.

15. A binding for a book comprising a thin attaching flap extendinglongitudinally of the back of the book, flexible folded anchor elementshaving their free ends secured to the inner leaves of the book and theirfold portions extending through the back of the flap','and means unitingthe anchor ele-VV ments to the attaching flap, the latter havingopenings therethrough lforengagement with the. retaining devices of atemporary binder.

16. In combination with a book binding for use in mounting books intemporary binders and comprising a thin attaching liap hinged to theback of the book, a filler substantially coextensive in length with theflap and automatically expansible substantially to lill the spaceunoccupied by the flap at the rear of the book When the latter ismounted in the temporary bindin 17. In combination With a book indingfor use in mounting books in temporary binders and comprising a hingedattaching flap thinner than the book ysecured to the back of the latter,an accordion-plaited strip of resilient material constructed -r andarranged to engage the flap and in effect automatically to increase thethickness of the flap to correspond to that of the back.

18. A binding for books comprising an attaching flap hinged to the backof the book, said flap being thinner than the book and having openingsfor'engagement with the retaining devices of a temporary binder, and anexpansible liller member for including the effective thickness of theflap. Y

19. In combination Wit-h a book binding comprising a thin attaching flaphinged to the back of a book, an expansible filler comprising spacedparts constructed and -arranged to embrace the flap.

20. A filler for use in mounting flexiblecovered books in temporarybinders consisting of a strip of resilient material plaited in accordionfashion and expansible to fill space Within the back of the binderother- Wise unoccupied by the book binding.

21. In combination With a binding for use in mount-ing books intemporary flexible backed binders and comprising a thin hinged flapsecured to the back ofthe book, a filler consisting of a strip ofresilient material folder to produce a series of plaits, said iillerbeing constructed and arranged to fill the space Within the flexibleback of the temporary binder not occupied by the attaching flap.

22. In combination with `a book binding comprising a thin attaching flaphinged to the back of the book, and a filler consisting of a strip ofresilient material of a Width substantially equal to the length of theiiap, said strip being folded transversely to forml a series of plaits,and openings being provided through the filler for the passage of thesecuring devices of a temporary binder.

23. A binding for a book having frontv and rear covers and a pluralityof leaves,

comprising means directly uniting the fronttlie rear half of the bookand other parts di cover to a leaf in the rear half of the book7 reotlyconnecting the rear cover to a leaf and means for uniting the rear coverto a in the front half of the book. 10 leaf in the front half of thebook. Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,

24. A binding for a book comprising a this twenty first day of January,1924:. strip of eXible material having parts directly connecting thefront @over to a leaf in LEO R. LEWIS.

Certificate of Correction.

'It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,569,382, grantedJanuary 12,

1926, upon the application of Leo R. Lewis, of Somerville,Massachusetts, for an improvement in Bookbinding, errors appear in theprinted specification requiring correction as Ifollows: Page 4, line 51,claim 2, for the Word double read doubled; page 5, line 96, claim 18,for the word including read increasing; same pa e, line 114, claim 21,for the word folder read folded; and that the said Letters Ltylatentshould be read with' these corrections therein that the same may conformto the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 2d day of March, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Pmfemfa.l

